Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Canon PowerShot
SX20 IS

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon Rebel T3i

84
"Excellent image quality even at high ISO settings"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's image-quality
"Good quality 1080/720p video output with a range of frame rates and control over exposure"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

51

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Capture more than 80% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 11.5x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The T3i's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
 Around 5.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.4"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Weight Slightly lighter 570 g vs 600 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/3200s
Help
 20% faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $618.94 vs $742.98
Help
 The best price we've seen is $124 cheaper (around 20% less)
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Canon SX20 IS
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Slightly smaller 128x88x87 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX20 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
84 vs 51
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3i. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a super zoom.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the T3i or the SX20 IS,
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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
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26 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I would say that from what I know, nikon has a better beginner friendly interface which will hel..."

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by Ameera-Khan1 last month
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This will be my first purchase of a dslr. I want to buy the best available camera that I can use...

6 people recommend the Canon T3i:

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" Thy are easy to use. I have used Canon's for many many years. I have tried Nikon they are not ea..."

" If filmography is your calling, then go with the T3i. Trust me. "
One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

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0
votes
by Bucketsss last month
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Tell us more! Are you a beginner or expert? What types of photos do you like to take? What featu...

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-600d-vs-Nikon_D3100 Wildlife with the 600mm L lens from Canon..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
T3i:Pentamirror
SX20 IS:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
T3i:1/4000s
SX20 IS:1/3200s
Thickness Quite thick Help
T3i:3.1"
SX20 IS:3.4"
Weight Heavy Help
T3i:570 g
SX20 IS:600 g
Size Large Help
T3i:133x99x79 mm
SX20 IS:128x88x87 mm
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$348 - $595 body only

$439 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Much longer battery life
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Startup delay Less startup delay
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Rebel T3i

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom
Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
External flash No external flash support
Compare the Coolpix P100 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Super zoom
Size Smaller
Aperture Slightly wider aperture
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Zoom Less zoom
Compare the PowerShot S5 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Super zoom

$644
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Compare the PowerShot SX1 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon Rebel T3i Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Canon Rebel T3i Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

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